The bowling attack of Afghanistan is one of the best in the T20 World Cup, says Williamson

The bowling attack of Afghanistan is one of the best in the T20 World Cup, says Williamson

Williamson believes Afghanistan is much skilled team now than before.

New Zealand has their much-awaited T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Afghanistan scheduled for Friday night at Providence, and their ace skipper Kane Williamson knows the danger that his opponents pose.

According to Williamson, Afghanistan has one of the best bowling lineups in the World Cup and they are improving with time due to exposure to the highest level cricket.

“There for sure a number of players in their side,” Williamson said when asked by the press if there is someone in the Afghanistan team they have focused on to follow. I mean, and, after all, all of the players – they are just great, such a skilful team, one of the best bowling attacks, as far as I think, in the competition.

‘And we’ve had that in franchise competitions: the engagement, the participation of Afghani players.’ And they’re only improving,’ Williamson added. >Again they are playing more top-level cricket, however, we saw at the last World Cup how good and strong they were in ODI’s as well, so a very skilled side with a few threats.

One of those threats is their star legspinner Rashid Khan while Williamson has experience of playing with him in the IPL both for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and more recently Gujarat Titans.

”Of course, Rashid has already played for quite some time now, despite him still being young, but one of the most talented players in the world,” Williamson was quoted as saying. However, there are several other players in their side all through, in fact, really that gives them the flavour, the excitement and the competition of a good side.

Williamson was brought into the World Cup similar to several other players, through the Indian Premier League. But New Zealand’s T20I captain Elton Chigumbu featured in only two matches in a season when Titans didn’t qualify to the knockout stage for the first time in three years.

“That is true. It is part and parcel of the processes that I have been involved in playing a few IPLs now and sometimes have to play more, and sometimes less.” But, interestingly, desire is at least partially connected with the balance of overseas players. And so, from what I have understood, it is just about attempting to help the team as much as possible and then spending a lot of time in some areas for fitness and other aspects of your game.

"Yep, having fun playing is good for guiding how you play and train. That's what I did," said Williamson. "Some parts were fun and others were just what I thought. But yeah, it was fun."

Williamson also liked that the World Cup now has 20 teams.